The Homeroom Teacher's Research Lab [Julia Pahu] (2)
Julia leaned back in her chair, the faint creak of wood punctuating her words. “Normal schools follow a fixed curriculum, but our dear principal decided his institution had to be special. He rewrote everything on a whim. Lectures and classes run much like they do at the Imperial University—something the Hero himself supposedly designed. Not that any of that matters right now.”
She waved a hand dismissively. “With so many instructors and courses, we naturally have a large student body. Some classes are impossible to get into even if you want them, so keep that in mind. If you’re truly desperate to take one, you can try persuading the teacher for private lessons. Though that only happens when there’s spare time or a course has been canceled.”
“I see…”
For Marei, who had always followed a rigid schedule back at his previous school, the concept felt utterly foreign. Julia noticed his confusion and let out a small, amused laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you build your timetable, so you don’t need to understand everything right this second. As for hunting down teachers with empty slots or canceled classes to beg them to open a new one… it’s theoretically possible, but that’s all it is—theory. You can safely assume it won’t happen.”
“Theoretically…?”
At Marei’s hesitant question, Julia gave a firm nod. Her brown hair swayed gently, releasing a sweet, adult fragrance that made his pulse quicken. He found himself staring at those silky strands, momentarily dazed.
“Teachers are people too. Most don’t want to add extra hours to their day. And one-on-one lessons? They usually only offer those to geniuses who skipped grades—future successors, that sort of thing. In the beginning, a few passionate instructors tried it, but private tutoring is exhausting for both sides. I teach several courses grounded in strategy myself. When I first transferred here after retiring from the military at the principal’s invitation, I tried to train a few protégés. They all ran away apologizing. I haven’t bothered since.”
“Ah… I understand.”
Even with a beautiful teacher like her, they ran? Marei thought. If the student was a boy, maybe the lessons were brutally difficult. If it had been a girl…
Julia turned out to be surprisingly talkative. Perhaps reminiscing had loosened her tongue. She let out a small sigh and smoothly changed the subject.
“Anyway, that covers the basics. I’m sorry to pry, but may I ask about your left eye? It wasn’t listed in your records. If it’s something you’d rather not discuss, you can have your guardian speak for you.”
“Ah… this is… well…”
What could he possibly say? Images of Labella and Erden flashed through his mind—both of them reduced to his slaves after looking into his left eye. He was certain the eye was connected, yet the whirlwind of carnal nights with them had left him too dazed to examine it closely.
“Is it some kind of eye disease?”
“No, it’s…”
“Then what?”
Her persistent questioning left Marei without a single plausible excuse. She had mentioned being a soldier once; the authoritative pressure made him shrink in his seat. Those calm, lake-deep blue eyes seemed to pull him under.
“My… my mother was cursed, and…”
“Hmm. Could I take a look? I have a curse-warding necklace from the Saint, so while I can’t dispel anything, there’s no risk of contamination.”
“That’s not really…”
Julia didn’t seem to believe him. Marei had been about to refuse when his gaze kept drifting to her body. Even beneath the coat, the elegant lines of her figure were impossible to ignore. If I show her, will she end up like Labella and Erden? What would a woman with such a rigid demeanor sound like beneath me? How would she moan and beg?
The lewd thoughts refused to stop. No. Stop this. Marei shook his head sharply, trying to clear the filth from his mind. The sticky, intoxicating nights with Labella and Erden had left too deep a mark. Their shadows clung to him, so that every attractive person now triggered the same dark impulse.
“Students and faculty alike are forbidden from wearing excessive accessories under school rules. Without a proper explanation, I’d have to confiscate it. If it’s for medical reasons, I can write a temporary certificate for today. But first, I need to see the condition.”
“But… that is…”
Faced with Julia’s insistent demand to remove the eyepatch, Marei closed his eyes for a moment. Even now, with the desk between them, he couldn’t stop noticing the curve of her hips beneath the coat, that icy beautiful face. This woman…
“I’ll show you.”
He stepped back from her reaching hand and slowly removed the eyepatch.
“…What a fascinating eye. Or perhaps I should say beautiful.”
At Julia Pahu’s words, Marei could only stare at her blankly. Unlike the two women who had reacted so violently, she simply offered a short, appreciative comment after studying his pupil. Then she glanced at her wristwatch and clicked her tongue.
“We’ve taken longer than I expected. If you enter the classroom now, you’ll only disturb the others during self-study. Would you like to have some tea here in my office instead? I received a rather excellent herbal blend as a gift.”
“Ah, sure…”
It was strange. Marei had vaguely assumed his left eye was responsible for the drastic changes in Labella and Erden, but Julia’s calm reaction suggested otherwise.
Her research office, located quite a distance from the faculty room, was surprisingly spacious.
“First time in a research office? Ah, of course—you haven’t attended the Imperial University yet, so the term must sound odd. Think of it as a private room granted to instructors who were personally recruited by the principal or whose abilities he recognized. Understood? Guest lecturers receive similar spaces, though they aren’t officially called research offices.”
“Yes…”
Julia seemed oddly animated. She moved briskly, boiling water, preparing the tea. Beneath her usual stern image, her movements were surprisingly gentle. If not for that military-sharp tone, she might have seemed like any ordinary woman.
“Go on, drink. A colleague from my old unit obtained these precious leaves from the frontier before I retired.”
“…It’s delicious.”
“Isn’t it? I don’t share it often.”
As Marei sipped the tea, he realized he had been making far too many assumptions about his left eye. At the same time, he felt a pang of guilt for having entertained the idea of seducing the homeroom teacher who was looking after a student like him.
“Did your parents pass away? Wait, that came out wrong. I was simply curious. I don’t know every detail of my students’ backgrounds, but I heard you lived with relatives before moving in with your aunt. So… I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.”
“It’s all right. My parents… died quite a long time ago. I don’t remember my father at all, and my mother passed when I was very young. It’s fine. Thank you for your concern.”
Julia had spoken lightly at first, then realized her mistake and apologized hastily. Marei didn’t mind questions about his deceased parents. He had no memories of his father, but his mother had been a good woman. They simply couldn’t be together anymore. Speaking of such plain facts brought neither shame nor discomfort. Besides, it felt natural for his homeroom teacher to take an interest in her student.
“It seems connected to the principal. Is the aunt you mentioned Labella de Pawen? The one known as the Witch of the Inspectorate?”
“I’m not sure about the witch part, but yes, that’s her.”
Julia gave a slight nod, then unbuckled the wide belt at her waist. She slipped off her red coat, stood up, sat down again. She looked flustered—almost like a child who didn’t know what to do with herself. The image was so at odds with her mature beauty that Marei had to fight down the smile tugging at his lips.
“Pawen… May I call you Marei?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
A faint smile touched Julia’s mouth—so subtle that only someone who knew her well would have noticed. Marei didn’t know her well, so he missed the shift. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the generous swell of her breasts beneath the brown sweater.
“Are you interested in strategy, Marei? Boys often dream of becoming generals. Quite a few of my students choose military academy over the Imperial University. As a transfer student, you intrigue me even more.”
“Military academy or university… I haven’t really thought that far yet…”
“Then would you consider taking my strategy class? Let me check the roster… Oh, it’s completely full. Since you’re a transfer, jumping straight into my regular course next semester would be quite demanding. I could open a special session for you. Not because I’m looking for a successor like before—this is simply because you seem to need a bit of extra guidance. I don’t mean to boast, but I also carry the nickname ‘Ice Witch’ for ending the civil war in the North. It won’t be a class you’ll regret.”
Julia spoke rapidly, as though racing against the clock. Unfortunately, Marei was far more focused on the melon-like curves pressing against her sweater than on her actual words.
“What do you think? Would you like to take the class?”
“Um, that is… well…”
She seemed to have said something important. Marei lacked the courage to admit, I was too busy staring at your chest to pay attention. He simply lowered his head. Had she been talking about strategy class?
“Hmm…”
Julia ruffled her wavy brown hair in clear frustration. The motion made her breasts shift beneath the sweater, and for a second Marei imagined he could hear them bouncing. She checked her wristwatch with obvious impatience. It was already time to introduce the new transfer student to the class, yet she deliberately ignored it and kept talking.
“There’s still time… Shall we chat about something more personal, then? Do you like chess?”
“A little… An elder taught me…”
“What about military history? Most boys enjoy that.”
“I don’t know much, but I like listening to it.”
Julia nodded slowly. The smile on her lips grew, as though everything were unfolding exactly as she had planned. Even Marei, who didn’t know her well, could now tell she was enjoying herself.
“I can never quite understand how boys your age think these days. Tell me, Marei—are boys your age interested in women?”
“Yes… usually, I suppose…?”
“What’s your type?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t have many friends, so…”
Julia’s smile faltered slightly at his answer, the corners of her mouth drifting back to their usual position. Still, she continued the conversation naturally. As she crossed her legs, Marei’s gaze slipped for a moment toward the sliver of thigh revealed by her slightly parted skirt.
“Then tell me what your ideal woman would be like. It might help.”
Marei wasn’t sure how it would help, but he answered earnestly.
“Someone… kind. Gentle. Warm, I think…”
The moment he spoke, memories of Labella and Erden surged up. He couldn’t possibly tell his homeroom teacher about his current situation. Even if he described how the two women spread their legs and begged him to thrust into them, she probably wouldn’t believe him. And he could hardly say he liked big breasts or a plump ass. So he kept his answer light and safe, describing the kind of person he could speak about without shame.